Keeping Dallas Page 5

  Nate threw himself into one of Laurence’s winged-back chairs, frustration evident on his face. “I understand where you’re coming from, Laur, I really do, but she’s strong—super strong—and I’m worried.”

  Laurence couldn’t dismiss his brother’s concern. Nate didn’t generally worry about things. If his brother thought the witch would be a problem, Laurence had better listen.

  “What do you want me to do?” he asked. “I can pull her in for having a harpy attack you, but unless there are other witnesses…”

  “I know, I know.” Nate paced the floor running his fingers through his hair. “The harpy came at me alone and told me who gave her the assignment. I killed her, so you can’t even compel her to give evidence.”

  His ability to force a confession made Laurence one of the most formidable judges in the city. Unfortunately, even he couldn’t get a confession from the dead. He didn’t have any necromancy skills.

  “The ball’s in her court. If she tries something else, we’ll have her.” Memories of the night before made Laurence ask, “Have you heard about any vampires being in town?”

  Nate stopped in his tracks. “Vampires? No. Why?”

  “One came by the club the other night. He seemed interested in Dallas.” Laurence gritted his teeth over the memory of the vampire’s hand touching his sub.

  “Hmm. I don’t know if Mary has any vampire connections. I can put out feelers and ask around if you’d like,” Nate offered.

  “Please do.” Laurence frowned as he tried to put together a group of random events to make sense. Vampires tended to keep to themselves. To have one wander into a busy club didn’t make any sense—especially since the vamp didn’t appear interested in anyone else, even for a drink. It would make more sense if Mary had paid him to make Laurence worry.

  “Do you mind if I crash here?” Nate asked. “That witch is still gunning for me.”

  “But I’ve only got Dallas for a week,” he complained. Even as he said the words, he knew he’d have to help his brother. Witches didn’t give up, and they yearned for his power. The sisterhood of witches and especially their leader, Mary Neeves, were magic hungry, and as much as they swore to be one with nature, accidents often happened to the magical creatures around them.

  “Is that the name of the boy in the other room?” Nate gave his brother a knowing look. “He’s pretty, but pretty boys are a dime a dozen.”

  “Not this one and he’s not a boy. He’s well of age.” Laurence scowled. “Dallas is my heart-bound.”

  “No!” Nate denied. “He can’t be. He’s not a sorcerer.”

  “He’s mine!” Laurence’s magic flared up and his hands began to glow.

  Nate stepped back. “Down, brother. Keep control. I’ll not hurt your chosen.”

  Fury raged through Laurence. The thought of anyone harming his sub made magic burn through him with a bonfire’s heat.

  “What’s wrong?” Dallas spoke from the doorway. Before Laurence could answer, Dallas quickly entered the room and stood protectively between Laurence and Nate. He had never seen his sub show even a sliver of aggression before.

  “This is my brother, Nate,” he explained, putting a soothing hand on Dallas’ shoulder. Luckily he’d stopped glowing so his sub didn’t see his magic openly displayed.

  “Oh.” Dallas immediately dropped to his knees before Laurence. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had a visitor.”

  Laurence watched Dallas’ bowed head for a moment. “How did you know someone was in here with me?”

  “I-I heard you talking.”

  For a moment Laurence thought Dallas was going to say something else but his lover kept his head bowed so Laurence couldn’t see his expression. “Look at me!” he demanded.

  Dallas’ head snapped up at his master’s command. For a second, his sub’s eyes glowed.

  “Oh, crap,” Nate whispered. “He’s not human.”

  A flash of fear crossed Dallas’ beautiful face. Laurence could see the need to flee in the tremble of Dallas’ muscles and the twitch of his left eye.

  Laurence plunged his fingers into Dallas’ hair, holding him still. “No. Don’t run. We need to talk.” How had he not seen it before? Had his infatuation overcome his magical sense?

  “What are you?” Nate asked, his expression fascinated as he watched Dallas struggle with the urge to run.

  “Back off, Nate. Go wait for us in the living room. I need a moment alone with Dallas.” He wouldn’t ask his sub to bare his soul in front of a stranger.

  “Are you sure I should leave you alone with him?” Nate asked with a cautious eye on Dallas.

  “It’s not the first time we’ve spent time together.” Laurence tried to keep his voice calm as he held onto Dallas with only his voice and a firm hand. Dallas could break free if he wanted to, but he remained passively still beneath Laurence’s touch.

  Most people didn’t consider Laurence to be a particularly affectionate person. They’d be surprised at how much he would do for his beautiful man. Even having lived for five hundred years, he’d only truly loved a handful of people. Each time, he’d had to leave them when they could no longer handle growing old while he remained young. If his boy had supernatural genetics, they might be able to stay together much longer. Joy flowed through him.

  “What are you?” Laurence asked, not beating around the bush.

  Dallas refused to meet his eyes and stubbornly shook his head.

  This would be a harder task than he’d expected. “Okay, how about I go first? I’m a sorcerer,” he confessed.

  Dallas moved quicker than the human eye. Before Laurence could blink twice, his lover was standing on the other side of the room, panic making his breathing loud.

  Laurence slammed the office door shut and locked it with a wave of his hand. He couldn’t have Dallas leaving before they finished their conversation. He refused to lose his lover before he discovered Dallas’ true nature, and he didn’t want to lose it even then. They’d have a long discussion about keeping secrets after this.

  “D-don’t kill m-me, please, Master.”

  Dallas’ fear cut him to the quick.

  “When in our relationship have I ever harmed you?” Laurence demanded. “Have I ever done anything against your wishes?”

  Dallas took long slow breaths as if he was trying to regain his calm. “No.”

  “No what?” Laurence snapped.

  Dallas dropped to his knees. “No, Master.”

  “That’s right. I’m your master, and you’ve been keeping things from me, too, haven’t you.” Laurence relaxed on familiar ground. They could get through this. Once they finished confession time they could move on to salvaging their relationship. Laurence wouldn’t allow for any other outcome.

  He stood up. He couldn’t let Dallas find any weakness in him. He had a feeling his werekin would only respond to a strong man at this moment. “What are you?” he asked again. “And why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I-I’m sorry but they weren’t my secrets to share.” Dallas refused to meet his gaze and didn’t say anything further.

  Laurence marched across the room and forced Dallas’ chin up so he could look into his sub’s gorgeous, deceitful eyes. “Then you should’ve gotten permission to tell me. Unless you didn’t expect to stay with me long enough for it to be a problem.” That thought cut Laurence to the quick. Although he had been planning a long-term relationship with Dallas, maybe his feelings weren’t returned.

  “Oh, no, that isn’t it at all.” Dallas shook his head vigorously denying the accusation. “I was going to ask Rolf if I could tell you everything, but I thought it would be better to wait until after the wedding. He’s been temperamental lately.”

  “Marrying someone you don’t want to, tends to make people cranky,” Laurence remarked.

  Dallas’ forehead scrunched into little lines as he considered Laurence’s words. “You don’t think he wants to get married?”

  “Not to his fiancée. But I don’t c
are about him. Answer my question. What are you?” He felt a bit stupid not having known his lover had paranormal abilities, but Dallas had purposely hidden them from him and didn’t give off the right vibes for a magic wielder.

  “Step back, please,” Dallas requested in a shaky voice.

  Uncertain and more than a little nervous, Laurence moved away from his lover.

  A flash of light blinded him. When he finally blinked enough to clear his vision, a brown wolf stood where his beautiful Dallas had kneeled before. The animal’s powerful frame and crystal blue eyes were like something out of a wildlife film.

  “You’re beautiful in any form, aren’t you?” Laurence walked over to the wolf, hoping he wasn’t about to lose a hand. Tentatively, he reached out and brushed the wolf’s soft ears with the tips of his fingers. The fur had a rougher texture than he’d expected. Laurence laughed in relief when the beast nuzzled against him. In either form his lover yearned for his master’s touch.

  “Shift back,” he demanded.

  Another light flashed in the room and a kneeling man replaced the wolf.

  It took a minute for Laurence to gather his words together to form a sentence.

  “Is Rolf your alpha?” Laurence concentrated on pulling from his brain fragments of conversations he’d had in the past about shifters. Sadly, he’d rarely had contact with werekin…or at least he thought he hadn’t. Now he wondered how many people in his life weren’t quite what they appeared. After all, if he couldn’t spot a difference about his lover of nine months, what else could he have missed?

  Dallas nodded but didn’t look up to meet Laurence’s eyes.

  Rolf’s behaviour made more sense now. The alpha had probably protected Dallas for his entire childhood. Alphas were notoriously possessive about their pack. “Why would you hide this from me? Look at me!”

  Dallas tentatively peered at Laurence through his dark bangs. “I thought you were human,” he said as if that explained everything.

  “Don’t sorcerers smell differently?” He would’ve thought he’d have a different scent than a human. Laurence didn’t know if he should be offended or not.

  “I just thought you smelt good because you were my mate,” Dallas explained. A gasp escaped his lips and he turned three shades paler than his normal colour.

  Laurence could tell his sub wanted to yank the words back. Joy filled Laurence as he realised the implications of his lover’s words. A werekin would never leave anyone he considered his mate. “I’m your mate?”

  A barely there nod was his only response, as if Dallas thought by avoiding the actual words he could ignore the implications.

  “Then you should be here with me every night!” Laurence snapped, scowling at his sub. How could Dallas think being apart was acceptable? He didn’t care if Dallas had been trying to protect him from the truth. He wanted his lover with him every night. “Mates sleep together.”

  “I can’t take the chance of shifting when the moon is full and hurting you,” Dallas argued. “I’m still young for a werekin and my control isn’t the best.”

  “Trust me,” Laurence demanded. “I can protect myself, there’s no reason for you not to live with me. Is there?” He wouldn’t back down. His boy didn’t belong at that pack house with a stone-faced guardian, an unfriendly woman and armed guards. Laurence could keep them both safe.

  Dallas didn’t respond right away.

  “Is there?” Laurence asked impatiently.

  “May I stand, Master?” Dallas asked in a hesitant voice.

  “Yes.” Curiosity had Laurence stepping back to allow Dallas room to climb to his feet.

  He walked over to the window, avoiding Laurence’s eyes. “In wolf years, I’m really young,” Dallas began. Laurence caught a quick look in his direction but didn’t interrupt. “My control varies and fades almost completely the closer it gets to the full moon. If I attack, I might not be able to…” He broke off as if his next words were too painful to speak.

  “I understand. You don’t trust me,” Laurence replied. His sub’s slim form held the power of a wolf. He respected Dallas’ strength but his magic would protect him even against his beautiful lover.

  Dallas shook his head. “It’s not about trust. I don’t know if my wolf will recognise you when I’m under the moon’s persuasion even if you are my mate.”

  “Oh, I’m your mate.” Laurence’s attraction to Dallas made perfect sense only if they were mates. “Wizards might not have mates, not like wolves, but we take our commitments very seriously.”

  So seriously that most wizards didn’t even try for any type of relationship. Bonding to a magic wielder had its own set of problems.

  Dallas wouldn’t look at him.

  Laurence sighed. “I’m more than capable of freezing you in a bubble if you try to attack me in wolf form.”

  “Really?” Hope glowed on Dallas’ face.

  “Yes. How many sorcerers do you know?” Laurence asked.

  Dallas’ brow wrinkled. “Is your brother a sorcerer?”

  “No.”

  “Then…one. I know one.”

  Laurence smiled. “So you’ll have to believe me when I tell you I’m the perfect partner for a young wolf who has control issues.”

  Dallas laughed. “You are, are you?”

  “Yes.” Laurence wrapped his arms around his lover until they had body contact from toes to chest and all the delicious parts in between. With silent spell, Laurence stripped them both naked.

  “Wow. I can see all kinds of possibilities.”

  Laurence kissed his sub, trying to convey all his passion and commitment in that one embrace. He didn’t want any doubts about their compatibility living in Dallas’ head. When he finally lifted his lips, he enjoyed the befuddled expression on Dallas’ face.

  “You are mine just like I’m yours. We might have a relationship not everyone understands, but as long as it works for us, that’s all that’s important. Now—is there anything you want to say before your spanking?”

  Dallas’ dreamy expression faded. “My what?”

  “You not only withheld important information from me, but you doubted my ability to take care of you and meet your needs.” Laurence let his tone convey his disappointment.

  “But you didn’t tell me you were a sorcerer,” Dallas protested.

  Laurence nodded. “That is true, which is why I’m only going to give you ten swats instead of twenty.”

  “But…”

  “Once you learned I was a sorcerer, you should’ve shown better confidence in your mate. A minimum of ten spankings.” He grabbed Dallas by the wrist and led him over to the armless chair with the high back. Laurence sat first then released Dallas.

  “I don’t think I deserve ten swats.” Dallas set his mouth in a mutinous line.

  “As you don’t get to choose the punishment, I’m not really concerned. Over my lap now, or I’ll add five more.”

  Laurence waited. Not by a twitch did he convey the battle going inside. Part of him wanted to grab the stubborn shifter and throw him over his knees, and the other half wanted to let the whole thing go. Sadly, if he let this go unchallenged, he knew he’d lose some of the respect of Dallas’ wolf. In order to prove he could be an alpha to his mate, he needed to assert his command over him.

  He could see the battle waging inside Dallas before the sub walked to Laurence’s side and gracefully draped himself over Laurence’s knees.

  “That’s a good boy,” Laurence praised. He rubbed Dallas’ tight ass a few times to build up suspense and to cherish the feel of bare skin beneath his palm. “Count for me.”

  After rubbing Dallas’ hard globes a few more times he raised his hand high then slammed his palm against Dallas’ ass.

  “One,” Dallas hissed.

  Laurence’s palm ached from the slap but he didn’t hold back. Two through five went quickly. He varied six and seven to the top of Dallas’ thighs.

  “Eight,” Dallas said with a broken sob.

  “Al
most there, my sweet wolf,” Laurence promised. He finished the last two in rapid succession, eager to finish the punishment and go directly to the making up.

  “Nine… Ten.”

  “Good, so good.” Laurence carefully turned Dallas over and cradled him on his lap. A soft hiss from Dallas brought a smile to his lips. “Sore?”

  “You know I am.” Dallas’ petulant tone should’ve had Laurence promising a harder spanking next time, but joy filled him instead.

  “You will stay with me from now on and only return to your pack house for runs and pack events. Understand?”

  Dallas nodded.

  “Good.”

  Laurence stood, lifting Dallas as he went. Walking over to the rug by the fireplace, he carefully laid Dallas on the soft surface.

  “After you rest a bit I’ll remind you how good it feels to be fucked after your ass is warmed.”

  “You’re not mad at me anymore?” Dallas asked in a small voice.

  “No, babe. That’s in the past. You took your punishment and now we’re going to move forward. Agreed?”

  Dallas nodded. “Agreed.”

  The small smile he granted Laurence made him feel like a king. A knock at the door drew his attention away from Dallas.

  “What?” he snapped.

  “Papa wolf came to visit and he wants his pup.” His brother’s voice, muffled through the door, brought added tension to the room.

  “Damn.” Dallas’ quiet curse said it all.

  Laurence said a fast spell to dress them before he walked over to unlock the door.

  His brother’s serious expression told him they’d better not mess around. He motioned for Dallas to join them and the trio headed towards the living room where Nate had left Rolf and Mila waiting. He heard Dallas’ footsteps behind him.

  “What’s wrong?” Dallas asked. He wisely didn’t go to his alpha’s side but stayed obediently a step behind and to Laurence’s right.

  “I did some research on your lover there. He’s a sorcerer!” Rolf snarled, his sharp, white canines flashing in the hall lights.